New year, new philosophy?
As we turn the page on 2008, maybe the phrase is only fitting when it comes to the Red Sox:
Out with the old, in with the new.
After all, in 2009, the Sox may have to win with a markedly different approach.
In the wake of the failed pursuit of Mark Teixeira, the Red Sox have indeed reached agreements with pitcher Brad Penny ($5 million guaranteed) and catcher Josh Bard ($1.7 million, non-guaranteed) on one-year contracts, at least partially addressing some of the team’s lesser needs this offseason. The latter suggests the Sox still have every intention of re-signing Jason Varitek, but what is clear now is that they must prepare for the reality that they will have a less-potent offense in 2009, meaning that they will have to win with pitching and defense.
As for the news that the Sox approached the Florida Marlins about Hanley Ramirez, it only magnifies just how costly the Teixeira fallout is. Ramirez isn’t going anywhere after signing a six-year, $70 million extension that begins next year, meaning that the Marlins have him locked up at an average salary of $11.67 million over the next six years. Further, because Ramirez’s annual salaries do not begin to explode until 2012 -- his base climbs to $15 million that season -- there is little or no reason for the Marlins to deal him before that time, at the earliest.
So why did the Red Sox approach the Marlins? For the same reason they pursued Teixeira. They know their offense is going to slip in 2009. They know that shortstop, more than catcher, is the position where they can make the greatest offensive upgrade. And they know that they need a productive young hitter for the middle of their lineup after breaking up the tandem of David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez that served as the nucleus for their entire roster for nearly six years.
The more you examine the realities here, the more you cannot help but wonder why the Red Sox got to $170 million and stopped with Teixeira, leading to a scenario where the club was willing to offer prospects like Clay Buchholz and Jacoby Ellsbury in a package for a young player with a $70 million contract.
But we digress.
Let’s take a moment here to look at the teams Theo Epstein has built over the last six years, beginning with the club that set a major league record for slugging percentage in 2003. In Epstein’s six years as general manager, the Red Sox have scored more runs (5,352) than any team in baseball -- the Yankees are a whisker behind at 5,347 -- which only highlights the key to Boston’s success. The Sox believe in building a deep, talented lineup that gets into (and mauls) opposing bullpens, which is a complicated way of saying that they seek to make opposing pitchers less effective.
By consequence, the Sox make their own pitching better.
But now? There are going to be some easier outs in this lineup, independent of the questions surrounding Ortiz and Mike Lowell. Barring a dramatic development at shortstop or catcher, the Red Sox are likely to have relative soft spots at three positions in their lineup, depending on what happens with Ellsbury. For all of the flash that many Sox fans adore in Ellsbury’s dynamic playing style, there is still great question as to just how productive he can be.
From June 2 through Aug. 29 last year, Ellsbury batted .240 with nine walks and .582 OPS in 69 games. When the stock market went into that kind of dive, we called it a recession.
All of this brings us to the pitching and, in particular, to Penny, who is precisely the type of signing many envisioned when the Sox entered this offseason: relatively low risk, potentially high reward. Assuming Penny’s health -- and independent of his effectiveness -- the real benefit here may be that the Sox get to keep Justin Masterson in the bullpen. Unlike many years past -- like, say, the last six -- the strength of the club now appears to be their pitching staff, 1 through 12, where they appear to have the kind of depth that their lineup once possessed.
In theory, that should mean the Sox will need to score fewer runs, and it does raise the question now of whether they will attempt more sacrifice bunts. After all, will they be able to play for the big inning as much?
As for Bard, his acquisition in no way should be regarded as an outright dismissal of Varitek, whose agent, Scott Boras, continues to exchange ideas with the club. At the moment, at least, Bard should be seen as nothing more than an understudy, which is precisely the situation the Sox had hoped for when they acquired him the first time in the Coco Crisp deal with the Indians in January 2006. The Red Sox liked Bard then and they like him now, and they believed he eventually would have been able to handle Tim Wakefield. This time, however, there is the great likelihood that Bard will catch Wakefield and at least one other pitcher as the Red Sox finally make the inevitable transition from one catcher to another.
Does that rule out Jarrod Saltalamacchia or another deal of the like? Of course not, especially when the Sox have made it quite clear (to Florida, at least) that they would indeed part with Buchholz. But despite what Epstein said at the winter meetings, it seems unlikely that the Sox could go with two young, inexperienced catchers when they also have youth (or inconsistency) in center field and at shortstop, not to mention injury/durability issues in right field -- J.D. Drew played 109 games last year -- and third base.
If the Hanley Ramirez talks told us anything, it is that the Sox do have serious questions about Jed Lowrie’s ability to play shortstop every day, at least for a big-market, high-salaried team in the ironclad American League East. (Lowrie would make one heck of a utility man, however, and the Sox believe he could also handle first base in spot duty.)
In the end, the bottom line here is this: The Red Sox are concerned that their offense, as currently constituted, will not be sufficient. The Hanley Ramirez exploration -- which according to the SI report, took place before Teixeira signed with the Yankees -- proves it. The last time the Red Sox entered the season with a suspect offense was in 2006, when just happens to be the last time the Sox missed the playoffs. That club finished sixth in the AL in scoring and won 86 games -- both were the lows of the Epstein Era -- and the 2009 Sox are beginning to bear an eerie resemblance to that club.
The more time that passes this offseason, the more you cannot help but wonder if the 2009 Red Sox will have to win with pitching and defense.
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Wait I'm confused. I thought the Red Sox and Marlins called off the trade BECAUSE they wanted Bucholz and Ellsbury plus.... I didn't think that the Sox offered Bucholz and Ellsbury... At any rate I think this is typical Mazz "blah blah blah"
The Sox stopped at $170m because if they had bid $200m, the Yankees would have gone $210, and so on, and so on.
I can't help but think that Theo & the Gang royally screwed up this off-season. It's hard not to feel a sense of dejavu:
04 & 07: World Series win.
05 & 08: Battled nobly to get to playoffs despite flaws.
06 & 09(?): Weak team, no playoffs.
I hope I'm wrong, but it's a depressing trend that seems to be forming.
Thank you Captain Obvious!!!
Massarotti - going back to this and your last article, please can you get into your head that New York were ALWAYS going to end up with Teixeira?!?! You seem to believe that if Boston has put a few more million $$ a year on the table he would have signed here and the Yanks would have walked away...If history shows anything, when the Yankees want a player, they just continue bidding until they get him, so if Boston added an extra 2 mill per year, the Yanks would have offered 3 mill, and so on.. Boston put a (huge) offer on the table and drew a line, and I can't criticise them for that... Theo is trying to put the best team he can together, and I for one think he is he is doing it the right way, scouring the market and seeing what deals are there. Don't write off 2009 just yet, because great pitching still beats great offence......
Money is the problem I say. Boston doesn't have as much as people suppose. That would explain why they are now willing to shift their young talent and not spend on Teix. Hardvard lost 25% of their endowment. I wonder how much Henry has lost lately?
The Yankees have shown us over the years that having a big, bad lineup does not guarantee a World Series ring. Pitching and defense is what always wins, especially in the playoffs. I like it!
Any thoughts on a trade with TX for Hamilton and the catcher the Sox want for Clay and Jacoby?
Thanks
Crazy as it sounds, but Manny is right now the best player available in the free agent market. Why not offer him $18mm for a one year deal? I suspect he will not be yielding much more in the open market as the Yanks are out of the bidding. I also suspect that he would view this as better than holding out a year. With the lack of spending this season, I would think we can even create incentives to get him up to $25mm (behavior, MVP, World Series MVP, etc.). It seems like cheap money to get that bat. We know what he can do at the plate and he would have all the right incentives for him (namely money) to perform. Plus, it would be a contract year - which is what he always wanted. If he performs well and is a good teammate...who knows what it could lead too. Think about it....
I'm hoping the Sox turn around and offer Bucholz and Lowrie or Bucholz and Ellsbury to the Twins for Joe Mauer, that would be a blockbuster for the Sox...we shall see who else they can possibly pry away with enough of their prospects, it's time to spend some of this talent to get a big bat!
I don't think it's much of a mystery why the Sox stopped at $170 mil for Teixeira. You said it yourself Tony, everybody lies in the free agent process. The Sox were smart enough not to believe Cashman based on the fact that the Yankees had seen their payroll drop by $86 mil from 2008 and had, so far, only spent $40 mil annually for CC and AJ. Figuring the Yankees would top whatever they offered, the Sox weren't going to allow Boras to up the ante on Teixeira. The satisfaction of causing the Yankees to pay an additional $10-15 mil, which is almost meaningless to them, would be more than offset by knowing they had been used by Boras. The $2 mil increase in the Sox' offer tells you the message they were sending to Boras.
tony...i'm not sure that i agree with your premise that there will be some easier outs in the lineup....i wouldn't exactly call the combination of varitek...lugo...lowrie...crisp and sometimes ellsbury a latter day murderers row....bay is an easier out than manny and that's about it...i would sign ivan rodriguez before varitek....and i would take a chance on tejada at short....and if i was really desperate for offense, i'd investigate whether barry bonds can play 1st base....
Here is something that I don't think you seem to understand about the Sox pursuit of Texiera. You are excoriating the Sox for "stopping" at $170 million whne $180 million would have gotten the job done. Don't you realize that if the Sox went $180, the Yanks would have gone 190 and if the Sox went 200 the Yanks would have been at 210?. Yeah, the Sox are a big market team, but they, like every other team in the MLB is simply not in the same financial status as the Yanks. Theo and crew wisely cut the cord when it became readily apparent that they were merely being used to drive up the price.
Why is it such a mystery for the media that the Red Sox quit bidding for Teixteira at $170 million? Clearly, the Yankees were playing a waiting game (encouraged perhaps by Scott Boras?) to see where the price point for Teixteira would be. Once that was established, the Yankees plan was to swoop in and offer him more money. By then, other teams were exhausted by their negotiations with Boras, and, basically had final offers on the table. Even if the Red Sox had decided to top the Yankees' offer, does anyone doubt the Yankees would have continued to up the ante? It made no sense for the Red Sox to continue the negotiations.
Yes....Why did the Sox stop at $170 mil for Teixeira? The Sox may need to realize that sometimes they may have to make a deal that does not 100% favor them. This was one of those times. Is Theo still "picking and choosing" or is he a little paniced now. The Sox better pull something out of their sleeve to help the offense or 2009 may be a long year. What are the odds that Papi, Lowell and Drew stay healthy all season? That is why the Sox need to get a young slugger. That is why the Sox went after Teixeira. However, the Sox left the door open for the Yanks by holding firm at $170 mil. I still don't know why they stopped there. Did they really think the Yanks were out of it? The Sox could have at least driven up NY's cost more. NY held firm at $180 mil. Maybe Teix would have come to Boston for 8 years/$188-192 mil. I am not sure that Teix would have left money on the table, if only the Sox would have offered it. It's ARod all over again - Sox try to save money and he winds up in NY. We got lucky that ARod is a choker, we may not be lucky this time.
I think your take on the Hanley Ramirez talks is unnecessarily negative. It is not proof of desperation following the Texiera Yankee-signing. Ramirez would be a great fit, and really a better move than signing Texiera because he would fill a slot that is a glaring weakness and improve the lineup without displacing Lowell or Youkilis. I am not an insider so I may not understand this as well as you, but if I were the Red Sox, I would not give up on the Ramirez thing. In fact, I wouldn't rule out moving Buckholz AND Elsbury to get him. I know it would be a risk, but I was concerned about what I saw from both of those guys this season. Buckholz could be worthless by this time next year, and even if Elsbury fulfills his promise, will he be as valuable as Ramirez with his power numbers? I know it creates a new hole at center field, but if Elsbury doesn't pan out, we are going to have one anyway.
Tony - the HanRam takes where prior to the Teixeira signing w/ NY, no?
I think Theo and company have a strong team going into the season and will most likely make a big trade before the trading deadline. Holliday is a free agent at the end of the year and you know Billy Beane has no intentions of signing him for big money. The Sox have always had a strong interest in him so I could see them going after him or packaging some of our young talent for another big bat.
we still have plenty of time until the regular season starts and the sox have plenty of time and resources to still make a move for the pieces they need. this boston media over-dramaticizes every situation to try and keep readers interested. mark texeira was not worth the salary the sox offered and the world will not end as a result of him not signing with the sox. please stop writing this crap mazz. this is not the national enquirer and the drama created by irresponsible writers like you is detrimental to the team you claim to love. these things take time to work out; it's not a fantasy league. theo and company have to negotiate with real human beings who have families and issues of their own to take into consideration when contemplating deals to make the team stronger. lets all take a deep breath and stay excited for spring training. no more overreacting, no more armchair gm opinions, and no more yankee fear. we have won two championships this century and made a pretty impressive run with a roughed up team in 2008.
In the end, the bottom line here is this: Don’t underestimate the impact of the Teixeira loss in the minds of Sox officials. The Hanley Ramirez exploration proves it.
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To All Who Thought It Wasn't Necessary To get Teixeira....(I can't believe I am about to say this)....but Mazz is 150% right in this article.
Going after Hanley Ramirez immediately after Red Sox Nation puked at the feet of Theo Epstein "PROVES" that they know they blew it and our offense will suffer for it.
Mazz -- please stop beating up the Sox about Texeira.....
Tex did not WANT to sign with the Sox. There isn't anything that could be done.
I think the exploration of Hanley Ramirez speaks more to the uncertainty of Mike Lowell, NOT Jed lowrie. A healthy Mike Lowell really makes a huge difference in the lineup. Lowrie has and can play 3rd base and Youkilis is a great insurance policy at that position going forward. With Youk's contract situation steady albeit year to year, it is much easier to find or convert a first baseman (maybe even within the organization). Youkilis until recently has not been your prototypical slugging 1st baseman (not a knock). The exploration into Han-Ram scares me a little about Lowell's injury/recovery. If you put it into perspective Manny's departure was filled partially by Bay and added production by Lowrie at short. That same production this year (if you can assume that) with a healthy Lowell will help, but it all hinges on the health or options available by/for Mike Lowell
I just don't buy the Teixeira loss as that significant to management. The Sox payroll is only at $100M as it stands now. If Tex was that important to the future of the franchise, why wouldn't the Sox overpay if necessary? Something stopped them and it wasn't money. The Yanks recent tactics (Contreras, A-Rod, & Damon) wouldn't have snuck up on the Sox again.
The Hanley Ramirez thing is also a stretch. This guy averages around 25 errors per season. Do you really leave a hole in CF (Elsbury) and sacrifice a young starter (Bucholz) to get an upgrade at short? Who would make that deal? The Sox probably kicked the tires and that's all. Lowrie had one error and that was at third. The reason his offense dropped was due to an injury. I'll stick with defense, thank you.
Are the winter meetings the only period of time when fake reports are "leaked"? Come on Tony...
Tony is half right...they are improving the pitching. I don't think the Red Sox line-up slips next year at all.
Papi was injured and actually hit better when he returned - where's that drop off?
Varitek not getting 500 abs improves the production from the catcher spot.
Lowrie was better than Lugo.
Lowell will be healthy all year
Maybe it's time Tony realized he changed jobs and isn't working for the Boston FishWrap anymore?
Man Mazz you really had a huge man crush on Tex huh? Get over it, the yankees outbid the sox, if the sox upped the anti, they still would not have gotten it done. Plus... maybe again, just maybe, can you fathom that it was not the sox fault and that Tex did not want to go to BOSTON? GET OVER IT ALREADY.
Your discussion gives the impression that the Sox pursued Hanley Ramirez AFTER the situation with Teixeira fell through. According to si.com, the Sox were having discussions with Florida weeks ago about a potential trade to bring Ramirez back to Boston. Regarding your final point, pitching and defense are what win championships! Your pieces, although you catergorize them as "realistic", seem to have a very negative quality. It's no great disaster if the Sox don't make the playoffs this year. I'd rather that than to still be waiting for them to finally win a World Championship!!!
Mazz is bordering on becoming irrelevant.....win with pitching & defense (and a pinch of chemistry) , what a concept!! Henry & Co. already know this (see states evidence - two ws rings in four years).....Mazz is just realizing this....the Yankmees will fail because they have no defense up the middle and NO team chemistry.
I'd have pulled the trigger on getting Hanley back in a heartbeat. For TacoBellsbury and Buck? Uh, no problems there...there are plenty of mid-grade outfielders around. Clay had a meltdown last year, it could have been too much time with the Playmate. Jacoby is currently just an average outfielder. He has upside, but we'll have to see how that plays out this year with him playing 150 games or so.
Tony Massarotti belongs back with the Herald with articles like this. He complains and wines more than anything. Is there any chance we could trade Mazz and a writer to be named later for Borges?
If in fact the Hanley Ramirez story is true I think the Sox would be interested in him playing in the OF, not at SS. He is not a very good defensive shortstop. Florida has been thinking about moving him to the OF, a la B.J. Upton.
LETS ALL FREAK OUT!! Jeez people. You'd think this team hadn't won sine 1918. Have a little faith in our ownership group and our baseball ops folks.
Mazz doesnt know what hes talking about, we all know this. A Sox offense, as contructed today of:
Ellsbury
Pedroia
Papi
Youk
Drew
Lowell
Bay
Lowrie
Catcher
Is still a hecjk of a lineup. Take a look at our pitching 1-12 and you'll see why real fans like myself are still not too worried. Jeez people, get a grip, its not always doom and gloom.
All you commenters apparently missed that NY held firm at $180 mil for Teixeira and were surprised that they landed him for that. Wish I saved the link. I think it was Heyman that reported in detail how it all went down. If only the Sox had upped their bid! I'm not sure that Teix would have left any money on the table.
Jeez, I wish I could figure out what Massarotti's nickname is.....
The only thing the Ramirez talks tell us is that Theo & Co. are doing what they say every year, "We will explore all possible avenues to put the best baseball team on the field next season." If they didn't explore the Hanley Ramirez option, they wouldn't be doing their due dilligence now would they?
Maz, published reports indicate that these talks for Hanley happened long ago, perhaps as far back as the winter meetings, which kind of blows a hole in your theory that the Sox are desperately trying to upgrade in the wake of losing Tiexiera. If they got Hanley, I bet that they wouldn't have even explored Tiexiera, other than to drive up his price. In fact, with Lars Anderson in waiting, I wouldn't rule out being in the Teixiera talks in part to drive up the price for the Yankees. Anyone who didn't think they would swoop in at the last minute has their head up thier but! The Sox management is smarter than that.
By new philosophie, Do they mean cash in on the fans before they sell the team in 2 years?
Or do they mean to put offers on the table they KNOW will be trumped?
Get ready for a 4th place finish, Sox Nation. Is Dan Duquette available? We need a GM that will actually make good moves, see Manny & Pedro & Damon. Do not see Lugo, Clement,. Crisp, and Drew. How would Kelly Shoppach look now?
Anyone know what Massarotti's nickname is?
Back up the truck for Hanley. Clay, Jacoby and anyone else. If not, go get Michael Young and Salty from Texas for same package.
Resign Manny !!!!
"The more time that passes this offseason, the more you cannot help but wonder if the 2009 Red Sox will have to win with pitching and defense."
Is is just me or is the "post steroid era" a prescription for winning around pitching and defense? Old school baseball?
Everyone - just calm down - we won't have to wait another 80+ years for another championship. The Red Sox are appropriately taking their cue from the sub-prime mortgage mess and NOT mortgaging their future for a number of over-priced commodities. It really is ok if we have a down-ish year this year if it means we're building smartly for the future.
In any case, pitching and defense wins championships, and we have a wealth of both.
CC - come se dice "wall ball" en Espanol?
Punch and Judy has gotten the Twins at or near the top of the division for years, and they did not have the pitching staff that the Sox have going into '09.
i like the idea of going after hanley ramirez and would quickly send both buchholz and ellsbury to miami for him. i would immediately think of playing ramirez in centerfield where it seems that many professional baseball people think that he will play sooner or later.
ramirez is signed to a large (and reasonable) contract that has about 6 years remaining, he is a quality bat regardless of what position he will play defensively, has better than average speed on the bases and allows the red sox to be happy with lowerie's steady defense at shortstop.
Teixeira went to NY. GET OVER IT, Tony
HI
Tony almost always finds the most negative spin to put on RS moves and motives. No one should be surprised at the tone of his writing. It's been this way for years.
If Lowrie could play as well as he did with an injured hand, it stands to reason that he can improve. Please be reminded: This is a guy that paid attention to all of the little things as he was credited with playing time.
Perhaps, the Sox should keep an eye out for middle-of-the-season players (e.g. big bats) that can translate into a more productive team? In fact, this might be more fruitful than an over-priced Texeira.
Pitching, pitching, pitching. Improve the middle of the bullpen and watch 5-10 potential losses get moved to the win column. (It's a lot cheaper than Texeira and might translate into more play-off wins, as well.)
Don't discard the guys from Pawtucket; don't place unfair expectations on them, either. Personally, I'd love to see a few of them challenge for some playing time at Fenway next year. An injured JD and/or outfielder will have the phone ringing. Hopefully, these guys will approach the upcoming season as though they are going to get called up.
This team is in trouble offensively? This *is* the same team that went to game 7 of the ALCS isn't it? Albiet probably healthier this year. The Red Sox have been the most successful team BY FAR in the last six years and people still doubt the F.O.?
Give me a break.
I've been disappointed with Mazz as a commentator on all things Red Sox:
far too negative dude. Sox are winners now. Mazz brings the attitude that
existed before the Sox won, and those attitudes tend to the self-fulfilling.
If you do love the Sox, Mazz, why do are continually tearing them down?
Are you still talking about the same Mark Teixeira who has never been on a team that won a playoff series? The same Mark Teixeira who has never finished in the top 6 in MVP voting?
At some point, emotion needs to take a backseat to logic. Teixeira is not the type of player that is worth the money he will be getting paid in relative terms to other professional baseball players. Boston Red Sox Incorporated deemed that it just didn't make good sense from a value perspective to bid more than $168 million. It's that simple. Let's move on.
How about using some of the money they were willing to give Teixeira and sign Lowe? Bet Lowe will take the town discount (13 mill?)! That would really make thier starting pitching strong and still allow them to deal for H. Ramirez.. Then, get Kapler back and sign Tek for 2 years at 6 million.
Saltalamacchia would be a marketing blitz for Red Sox, jersey sales, etc. People would be calling him "Salty" as if he were the next door neighbor's kid. Not only that, the kid can FLAT OUT HIT! Theo needs to stop the nonsense and trade Buckholz for Salty. Remember, they traded Hanley Ramirez and got 2 World Series Championships in return. (Now Hanley is the best position player in the NL.) No question. Clay Buckholz isn't Hanley Ramirez, and trading him for Salty might turn out to be just as productive as the Slochum for Varitek trade (minus Derek Lowe. Make the deal.
I'd deal Buckholtz and Ellsbury for Rameriz. Sign Kotsay to play center field for a year or two an the Sox lineup would be much stronger. Rameriz steals 50 bases a year so that would replace Ellsbury's speed. The Sox have other Pitchers that will be ready within a year that can replace Buckholtz. They just signed a pitcher from Japan, Masterson, Boiden, Bard etc.
You keep pointing out that the pursuit of Ramirez shows that the Red Sox have concerns about offense at shortstop. That completely ignores the fact that it is mentioned in the article that they may have considered moving Ramirez to center since he isn't a great defensive shortstop.
And aren't you Boston writers tired of getting scooped by the national writers? There wasn't any hint of these talks from any Boston writers. Big surprise. Boston writers are too busy interviewing Jay Payton about a possible return to Boston.
Once again, Mazz has totally missed the point. Theo and company not only gave themselves a spending limit in Texeira, but they also did NOT cave on one of their big issues - the no-trade clause. I applaud them for sticking to their guns.
And anyone who thinks that the Yankees weren't in this from the beginning are crazy. They basically went to Boras and said, "Tell us when you have the final offers and we'll beat them all."
To me the only negative this offseason was running up the price on Youk as a by-product of the Teixi8era sweepstakes.
Mazz, you're overreacting.
Like many responders have pointed out, the Yanks would have continued bidding if the Red Sox had increased their offer, and there's no way the Red Sox could win a bid battle with them. If the Yankees want someone, and that someone is just interested in $$, that someone will sign with the Yankees.
It just shows how little we needed someone like Teixeira in the first place. He would have been the A-Rod of the Red Sox, and the team can easily do without him. One player does not a team make. The offense will be stronger this year without Manny: the Red Sox scored more runs per game without him than they did with him!
In response to comment number three. How is that depressing? Two championships (and 4 playoff appearances) every 5-6 years. I'd take it.
I would call florida and reopen the talks. I would give them elsbury, bucholtz, and bowden. I would even throw in 2 other lesser prospects to sweeten the deal. Then I would sign lowe and you are back in business.
Tony I don't understand your assertion that the Sox are going to see a drop in production from the offense in 2009 based upon them being "soft" at 3 positions(Catcher, CF, SS).
The Red Sox scored the 2nd most runs in the american league last year getting below avg. production from Tek, Cash, Coco, Ellsbury, Lugo, Lowrie in those 3 positions. I would expect that Ellsbury and Lowrie will put up AT LEAST as good numbers as we got from SS and CF last year based on that they are young still improving players. Regardless what we do at Catcher it would be tough for whoever we have out there to put up worse offensive stats than our catchers did last year. The rest of the lineup should be about equivalent to what it was last year and still has upside if we get bounceback years from Ortiz and/or lowell. Also the loss of Manny did not hurt the Lineup last year as we scored more than half a run a game more AFTER we traded Manny than before. I just don't understand where this projected dip in offense is suppose to come from.
Your speculation that the sox management has a new "philosophy" just because YOU see a possible downturn in runs is absurd. Its also absurd to think the sox question Lowries ability to play SS everyday just because they are looking into Hanley Ramirez. Hanley is a top 5 player in the game and best SS in the game......of course the sox have interest trading for 1 of the best players in the game in the early prime of his career! That has nothing to do with Lowrie but more to do with the greatness of Hanley Ramirez . If they thought Lowrie couldn't play SS they wouldn't be trying to dump Lugo the 1st chance they can get!
One more thing(your wrong alot)............Bard is not the "inevitable transition from one catcher to another" that you talk about. He is a nice signing with offensive upside at a great price. What he isn't is a "catcher of the Future". He also isn't "young and inexperienced" when he will be 31 to start the season. Hopefully he is the experienced veteran backup catcher that will be the guy that is paired with the young catcher of the future.
Tony, good article. Isn't it possible that the Red Sox, if they did trade Ellsbury, Buccholz and a few prospects to FL for Hanley AND kept Lowrie, that the Sox could have moved Hanley to CF since his defense at SS is shakey at best? It looks like Lowrie can be at the very least an average everyday defensive SS and scouts that have seen him hit don't question his bat. After all Jed was playing the 2nd half of last season with a broken bone in his wrist.
MAN Crush. Get over Tex. Please. We did not get him. he went for bigger bucks and more flexible terms. OK. The guy was supposed to guarantee the Braves and the Angels succes, and that didn't happen. Please, enough whining about Tex. If Theo does not deserve the benefit of the doubt by now, he never will....
Would like to understand the particulars of those Hanley discussions...what is too much for the Sox to give up....for me none of the kids except for Lester and Masterson are untouchable....guessing they wanted Ellsbury, Buchholz, Bowden and maybe Lars and that is where the price was getting too high...We will have to overwhelm teams to give up guys like Hanley or Joe Mauer...they will have to overpay and that is just the way it is when you decide to lowball your primary free agent target.....honestly maybe the Sox and Henry in that famous Texas meeting learned right there that NY was where Tex wanted to be all along...but we could of made it difficult for the Yanks we offer 200 to 210 right off the bat maybe the Yanks never enter the picture....it is much easier even for the Yanks to enter the bidding and win at 180 than it is at 220....In any case the Sox are being naive if they thing the team and offense as built right now is no better than 3rd place....they need something....maybe they go one level down and try to expand a Texas deal to get Michael Young for ss and the catcher we need...he is a gold glove guy and add some pop at SS not as much as Hanley but it may be a more acceptable price.
I am condused on why it is presumed that our offense is going to be so bad next year. Weren't we one of the better teams offensivly last year? And that was with injuries to Lowell and Papi. This year we have the same exact guys coming back (assumingly), Papi and Lowell healthy, but our offense is going to struggle?
Doesn't make sense
If we still had Coco to play center, I'd make the Clay and Jacoby for Hanley trade in a heartbeat.
My take on it from what I've read is, the Sox offered Ellsbury, Buchholz and more, with the Marlins yawning. What a deal that might still be.
The Sox DO need an offensive upgrade. Why not explore JJ Hardy from the Brewers, who need pitching? He's a fine 2 way player, with a low salary.
As for Manny, um, where would he play on this team? We already have a left fielder, who plays the game as it should be played, and is 6 years younger.
Unless Ortiz broke down, there's no place for Manny.
Tony, can’t you write about the Celtics or something? Why are you worrying about 2009 when it’s only December 30 – hell, the way you’re writing you might as well program your keyboard to pound out the tune to ‘Taps’ with each keystroke. GET A GRIP!
And seriously, does 2006 have ANYTHING to do with 2009? In 2009 the Sox have an established Kevin Youkilis and MVP Dustin Pedroia in the line-up, JD Drew in RF rather than a rapidly declining Trot Nixon, and also, Ellsbury and Lowrie we would expect to outperform Coco Crisp and Alex Gonzalez of the ’06 team. Sure, Manny isn’t hear but Bay is a solid ballplayer … and another thing – isn’t this the same offense that got to GAME 7 of the ALCS IN OCTOBER? Oh yeah, and they were minus a healthy Mike Lowell, a healthy David Ortiz and a healthy Josh Beckett. Sure, Lowell and Papi’s recovery is a question mark, but show me ONE team that doesn’t have a question mark as we approach spring training. This media propaganda BS and ‘whoa-is-me’ type of slant you’ve taken lately is downright pathetic and ridiculous. Sure, I would’ve loved Teixiera, but he’s not coming, move on, and why wouldn’t Theo look at Hanley Ramirez – if they were stupid enough to say ‘Yes,’ what’s to lose. Who doesn’t want to improve always? Does that mean Theo thinks this team can’t win? I don’t think so by any means.
Maybe the Yanks get better, maybe Tampa digresses, maybe Toronto has a strong run, maybe-maybe-maybe-maybe-maybe … what kind of articles were being written in February ’04 when A-Rod went to the Yankees? I’m guessing they weren’t too glowing in this part of town, and guess what, he’s 0-5 in getting a ring in pinstripes. So if you want to play the ‘year-to-year’ comparison, let’s look at what the Yankees have let go vs. what they gained:
A) 52 HR-196 RBI-.859 OPS
B) 57 HR-190 RBI-.852 OPS
They’ve essentially replaced Abreu and Giambi with Teixiera and Nick Swisher … the latter is group (B), so while Teixeria is the best of the four players, the Yankees NEEDED him a lot more than Boston. I don’t see their line-up as ‘significantly’ better than Boston’s. Also, Sabathia is a great regular season pitcher, but one with a 1-3 postseason record, with a 7.59 ERA and 2.20 WHIP. And what do those numbers mean going into 2009? Nothing. Nobody has won anything yet, a lot can and will happen between now and October … the games are not played now, there are too many variables that can happen and I know there’s not much else to write about this time of year when we’re right in between the holidays and the start of spring training which is why I’m pleading with you to write about the Celtics or at least gain some perspective about the words you’re writing about the Sox and quit being the conductor of ‘Taps’ from the keyboard.
Kyle
Andrew (post 8), there is no way Texas would ever agree to that trade. Josh Hamilton had an amazing year, and looks like he could be one of the elite players for the next decade. And I don't think he wants to leave the team that gave him a 2nd chance when no one else would. Throw in Saltalamacchia, and the combo of Buccholz and Ellsbury is laughable. It would take a lot more to get Hamilton.
Come on I can't believe my ears Mark wasn't worth this or that, Yes He Was.
The Sox brass flew down there with peanuts instead of signing him, They could have easly gave him a 200 mill contract they tried to be shrewd and got screwed by who else the Yankees who stepped in 10 minutes later and got it done.
If they want to keep the farm system intact you make these deals. Henry came back crying like a big baby and presented weakness. Like Manny they TANKED on the team and fans.
Theo and Co. are looking for good deals, not simply the best players. Thus, they tried to get Hanley (and probably would have moved him to CF) who is a GREAT deal right now. Texeira was not a good deal, once the amount it took to sign him was in the ARod area. The Red Sox are in position to win 90 games. With a little luck, they'll win 95. WIth a little bad luck, they'll win 85. Even when they were scoring LOTS of runs, it was pitching that keyed the championships once they got to October. If they can get to the post-season again, I like their chances against anyone. The big bats, however, help get to October because they destroy average and worse pitching. I think Mazz is being a little too harsh, here. Theo and co., have earned the benefit of every doubt and I don't care if he messed up with Lugo and Renteria.
Not only is it clear that the Yankees would have outbid us, but also that Teixeira wanted to be a Yankee all along. While the Sox were engaging in good faith negotiations, Boras and Teixeira, aided and abetted by the Yankees, were playing games with them, hoping to embarrass them. I believe John Henry figured this out when he and Theo went to Texas, and that's why he stated that the Sox were not a factor.
I sure wish Peter Gammons still wrote for the Globe....
I don't think they are down on Lowrie...I thought they were gonna used Hanley in center. Lowrie can be an above average shortstop. Most shortstops are garbage with the bat.
After reading some of the comments as well as the article I'm wondering what happened to the Pre-World Series Red Sox fans. The Yankees always get the guy we try to get our hands on and we hope to make the playoffs. We all sound like a bunch of spoiled New York Yankee fans. I was disappointed we didn't get Mark Teixeira but we were one game from going to the world series last year and the only person we've lost so far is Coco Crisp. Hopefully with a healthy Lowell, a healthy Ortiz, and the additions of Brad Penny as well as Josh Bard I think we'll do as well if not better than last year.
Remember - Keep the Faith!!
I've been reading the post today and once again I'm flabbergasted that anyone would even think to bring Manny back to Title Town . Now the Sox going after Joe Mauer from the Twins would be awesome , I think thats why the offer to Bard is not without a trade cluase . It's not really binding . So the Sox can trade Bucholz ,Lowrie and Bard to the Twins and possible some cash . Mauer is young with an outstanding bat. It does make you think about what i just mentioned. Remember if we had a healthy Lowell we would of reached the Series and won .
from what i have read the sox talked to the marlins about hanley prior to the Tex signing with the yanks. just shows that Theo will always check to see how he might improve the team. the garciaparra trade was for defensive purposes and had much to do with winning the world series. pitching , defense, and some speed will take you a long way. the sox have been changing their philosophy about how to play for a few years now.
C'mon Maz
You're beginning to sound like a lot of posters on the Red Sox board. They're not going to be winners in free agency every year. What about the Brewers, Pirates, Royals, Rays, A's etc? I think they'd love to be able to have the cash to buy a team, but they can't and do it the old fashioned way. Let's not cry too much for the Sox.
If it were me, I think I'd let Veritek go and keep the 2 draft picks. It was clear as a bell that he should have taken arbitration and he wasn't hip enough to his own valuation to do that. Maybe he's not the genius we make him out to be. That decision is going to cost him millions before he's done.
The Sox owners must have been hit by this stock market meltdown, especially since Henry is someone who played options and sophisticated stock market instruments so much to obtain his fortune. If that is the case let's support him and understand why the team is not on a spending spree. The economy could be down for a long time, hurting attendance and ad revenues BADLY. The Redsox are not immune to this. Do you think the ownership group is stupid? Look at what they have done. These are extremely bright people. Let's take the draft picks and continue to develop for the long haul. Maybe we will be in a position for Mauer and Pujols in the future but we should keep building the farm as they have done the past few years.
Can we hold on to Bucholtz for one more season. Why is he being rumored in every deal. Lets see what he does this year. A top propsect like that should be hands off.
We all know their are question marks with Ortiz and Lowell? Teixeira would have made the Sox a formidable offensive lineup. I'm inlcined to agree with making the deal with the Marlins for H. Ramirez, can Pat Burell play left field maybe move Bay to center? We need another bat!
You want a blockbuster BECKETT/ELLSBURY/ANDERSON for MORNEAU/SPANN/BAKER
Ney York was always Boras' ace in the hole. They desperately needed a first baseman and bat. They were always in the mix. Boras plays the Yankees and Red Sox like a pair of Stradivarius. Just remember the only time the Sox successfully negotiated with Boras is when the Yankees couldn't sign or didn't need the player (Matsuzaka, Drew, Varitek) the Sox ended up signing.
Maz-
I usually like your writing a lot, but this gloom and doom stuff has to stop. We missed out on Tex, it stinks, lets move on. I'm not willing to write off a season before it's started. A little optimism would be much appreciated, and I think, warranted.
We whined when we lost out on A-Rod. We whined when Damon left. Last time I checked, we've done just fine for ourselves.
we were one oblique and 1 game from the world series. Chill out
I would guess that an acquisition of Hanley Ramirez would be with the intent of moving him to centerfield, especially if Ellsbury is involved. The Marlins are considering the very same move if they keep Hanley. With a well stocked roster and farm system of pitchers, including Buchholz in the deal along with even another player/prospect would be worth it. Hanley is actually a few months YOUNGER than Ellsbury. Compare their bodies of work. The Sox get a young player with a much more proven bat who is nearly as fast as Ellsbury. Lowrie can play SS and Tek, even with his diminishing offensive skills would be less of a liability in the lineup.
Fellow Red Sox fans: Mark Teixeira was never--repeat--never--going to Boston. He blames the present administration for something that happened a decade ago--on Dan Duquette's watch. The New York newspapers have published stories to the effect that whatever John Henry offered, Teixeira (not Scott Boras) was going to tell them "we have better offers." Tex said he "always wanted to be a Yankee," so I think we should get over it and resign ourselves to the fact that we were going to get played--no matter what. We'll never get Hanley Ramirez back, so we've got to make do with Jacoby Ellsbury on the deep perimeter. I hate to see Clay Buccholz go, but after a disastrous 2008 campaign, it's clear that his sparkling debut in 2007 was without any substance--and he looked so good in just about every start. I don't know he lost his confidence--but it's gone--and without that, no pitcher can be effective. If the Marlins were crazy enough to accept Buchholz and "trash" for Ramirez, sure, take that to the house--but it won't happen. Pray for good health for both Mikey Lowell and David "Big Papi" Ortiz! The Sox'll be fine, and I would pencil in the Yankees for the A.L. East title yet. It will be interesting to see if C.C. Sabathia is taking the hill every five days next August.
There was never any intention of signing Texeria. The minute you hear the name Boras you should know "opt-out" and "no-trade" cannot be far behind, and the Boston Red Sox do not meet such demands.The "interest" in Hanley was nothing but spin control as a result of the Texeria fallout. It's called a diversion, people. Don't you see that they just did this to appease "The Nation's" desire to get big name players?? Just because they asked about a guy doesn't mean there was even a REMOTE CHANCE of the team getting him.But now "The Nation" can buzz about Hanley from now until April 1. Any coincidence this is leaked just AFTER the football season- when the Pats future/Brady's health/Pioli/Cassell/McDaniel should be all we're reading about?
Instead, the Red Sox Marketing machine is cranked up for the New Year!!
WHY AREN'T YOU PAYING ATTENTION?????
tony,
don't you get it? Teixeira wasn't coming to Boston for any price...EVER! as someone who knows his family, i can assure you he was never coming here.
If the fear is Lowell not being 100%, and the need for a hot bat.... why not Giambi for a year at 1B, moving Youks back to 3B? Save tradebait for a C?
Personally, I don't like it so much due to his personality, but he'd fit a need.
Most of the comments on here are from delusional fans. Mazz speaks the truth on most of his points. Although I was not a fan of getting Teixeira, if what everyone says is true, they should have bid up the price to make the Yanks pay more. I've said that Lowrie is better suited as a utility man and that Ramirez would have been a great addition....but not at the expense of Ellsbury; in that point I disagree with Mazz. Everyone who is down on Ells needs to remember that this guy is essentially still a rookie, and keeping him will eventually pay great dividends.
Face it, we are weaker offensively, and while pitching and defense is important to winning games, you still have to put runs on the board. Here are the areas the RS are weak in:
Starters (4 of 5 starters RHP; need another quality LHP)
RH bat off the bench (outfielder to spell Drew)
SS (Lugo-bat: Lowrie-range)
C (Very little offense and avg defense)
BP (other than Masterson, no long relief; control problems)
Some other issues: Will Papi return to form? What about Lowell? Can Drew play more than 100 games and hit for power and Avg? Youk and Ped carried the team last year, will they be as productive, lots of pressure on those guys? Can Lugo hit the ball out of the infield next year, will his Avg w/RISP be above .170. Can Beckett return to form? Can Dice-K go more than 5 innings per start?
Offensively, the only players I'm not concerned with are Bay, Youkilis and Pedroia
Those guys are solid. The rest are a big ?
It's great to be optimistic and have confidence in your team but there are just too many questions yet to be answered and too many holes to be filled.
There is NO WAY that I would trade Ellsbury in any deal.
I have way too-much faith in this kid.
I watched Fred Lynn play....and this kid reminds me of him.
He will be a major-player in our team for the next 10 years..... Fred Lynn all over again.
Ellsbury goes nowhere !!!!
Watch how well he plays "playing every day" without sittin gout 98 games to let Coco play.
Now, Buchholtz I'd move for Hanley Ramirez....and maybe someone else....but Ellsbury NO WAY !!
Scott, do you UNDERSTAND that Manny was voted off the island by HIS FREAKING TEAMMATES? Get over it will you. The Sox are NOT going to bring Manny back. It has nothing to do with money, incentives or anything else. They don't want him back, and neither do any of the fans with a BRAIN. HE QUIT ON THE TEAM.
Re-Sign Manny, please.... !!!!
I do feel that the offer the Sox gave to Teixeira was a good offer (170 mil) and legit. However, if what everyone is saying is true, and the Yankee's would have topped the Sox offer no matter what, why didnt the Sox make a higher offer, essentially driving up the price for the Yankees? They could have cost the Yankee's another 4 million per year if they wanted to. Therefore I dont know if the theory is true that the Sox had no chance...I think they set a limit to what they wanted to spend for this guy, and the Yankee's trumped it....simple as that.
Also, didn't the Yanks give Texieria a full no trade clause? Sox would never do that. They set a value on a player and that's it. If some other team goes higher than their projection for said player, well, they can have that player. 2 championships, very close 2 other times, AND some fiscal responsibility? C'mon, whats wrong with that? Yankees won the offseason...Big Whoop. Non-story, Mazz.
Mazz, you seem like you hate the fans and the Sox, you little bitter puke.
"Out with the old, in with the new.". What? We have the same players as last year, how is it out with the old in with the new.
Also, you say that our offense will definitely slip. How do you know that. Ortiz and Lowell had bad years last year. They could again. If they do, then we'll be the same.. And hilarious article about the four owners, it made me long for the bitter puke Mazz.
Folks, take it easy on Tony. He's got to write about the Sox almost everyday. What the heck else is there to say...
... however, I disagree that this team is beginning to look like the 2006 team. That team had a left fielder who quit on them late in the season. I don't think that will happen in 2009.
Hanley,at almost any price,would be a great addition to the lineup.Youth,power,speed, and the price is right.It would be a better financial deal than Teixeira.I hope somehow this could manifest.The Sox have to be willing to surrender something.They can't hide it forever......Logically,the Sox are going down the right avenues to fix needful problems.Everbody jumped on the Teix deal.I think this deal makes more sense.Go get Hanley,Theo!
LIARS FIGURE AND FIGURES LIE! The Red Sox play 81 games in hitter friendly Fenway Park. Red Sox have scored more runs (5,352) than any team in baseball -- the Yankees are a whisker behind at 5,347 -- which only highlights the key to Boston’s success. How about highlighting the success of their pitching staff in 2003, 2004 and 2007?
Why don't we seriously consider trading Buchholz and Ellsbury for Hanley, and then go sign Bobby Abreu for a few years at 10 million/year. Drew can play center, and Abreu is no slouch in the outfield. In the end, we still are paying about the same money (if not less) we would be paying Tex. And, our lineup would be rediculous. Picture this: 1)Pedroia 2)Ramirez 3)Ortiz 4)Youk 5)Abreu 6)Bay 7)Drew
8)Lowell 9)Catcher
Bunch of Chicken Littles
Let's play the season before we start saying how bad a season it is.
I hope everyone bounces back and the young players have careers years. Then MAZZZZZZ can shut his pie hole.
jimbo's right.
and mazz, can you write something interesting for a change?
This Hanley Ramirez story is a nonstory. It's a way for the front office to leak this to show the fan base they are still pursuing top level players. However, in the end, the Sox aren't getting Hanley Ramirez. Next Theo can leak out he went after Albert Pujols. The Sox aren't getting him either. Theo seems to be in on alot of quality players. In the end, he gets very very few of them. If you look at the 2004 and 2007 offense, Theo drafted very few of those players.
Theo needs to call the Twins. Lets go big and get Mauer, Morneau and Gomez. Give them Ellsbury, Buchholtz, Bowden and Lars Anderson. We get an all star catcher and first baseman both with power and a CF with as much potential as Ellsbury. Gomez would need to work on the strikeouts but he can run and possibly steal 50. The Twins get young blue chip prospects and they cut payroll. This would make the Sox lineup look like this:
1. Gomez - CF
2. Pedroia- 2B
3. Ortiz- DH
4. Youkills - 3B
5. Morneau - 1B
6. Bay - LF
7. Mauer - C
8. Drew - RF
9. Lowrie - SS
I'd take that lineup against anyone in the American or National leagues especially those free spending Yankees. Great combination of speed and power. Time to work the phones. Get Twins GM Bill Smith on the phone and lets make a deal.
Teixeira wanted to play for the Yankees all along, so can we stop talking about how the Red Sox messed up by not signing him? No matter what they offered, he was going to New York, end of story.
If the Marlin would trade Hanley Ramirez, then I would probably never watch another sports game EVER
Think the "Puruit Of Hanliness" was a few weeks before Teixera...Which make this article a Moot Point
If he is so uniteresting why do you read?
Man, there are a lot of people with Yankee-itis. "Let's just trade whatever we need to from our prospects to get an all-star (with extremely shady defense by the way). That will always work out great" Umm, no. You want to get rid of Bucholz ( I'm not in total disagreement with this one. So far, his winter league numbers didn't really show him regaining his form) and Ellsbury (give the poor kid a break- this was his real rookie season and he split half of it with Coco. Of course, most of you knew Pedey wasn't the answer at 2nd because of his horrible numbers in the first half of '07. Sox should have traded him too huh?). Keep Anderson. He might be the future at first once Lowell has to hang it up at 3rd, or DH if Papi can't turn it around. My point is don't be too anxious to give away the farm (i.e 2-4 future all-stars) for a player (especially a one-dimensional one)
When are we gonna get over this Mark Teixeira thing and move on?
You people are crying like a teenager crying over a girl who picked his worst enemy as a boyfriend instead of him, why cry over spoiled milk?
please grow up!!!
The Red Sox are in a very good shape for years to come, and we should let Theo do his thing, so far, our pitching is awsome from 1 to 12 and if we can sign Lowe and Pettite, Teixeira and the rest of hte Yankees hitters would look like peewee hitters, so why not invest that money on those two pitchers?
if we can trade for Hanley Ramirez and Saltalamacchia and add a power hitter (Hamilton, Giambi, Albert Pujols...) then we would have the best pitching and best lineup in the american league.
it's not over but you gotta let Theo do his job and forget about the the fool Teixeira.
be patient Red Sox Nation and don't under-estimate Theo and the people in charge of the Red Sox, they have their own way of doing things unlike the Yankees.
Let the yankees throw away all their money early. The Sox will be ready to trade for/sign to an extension top players who become available as soon as their teams have horrible starts? Ordonez? Fielder? Buchholz will see spot duty and bounce back to give them some young arms to trade - if Penny is a productive part of the rotation the Sox wil be able to make a big move well before the trade deadline. And by then they'll know exactly what they need. I think Theo and Tito have Varitek and Lowrie in their opening starting lineup right now, but if they can find an upgrade they'll go for it (Hanley). Theo rebuilt his reputation on mid-season trades (remember 2004) and is sitting pretty.
This is dumb! rely on pitching and defense?
yeah youk, pedro, papi, lowell , drew and Bay can't hit?
tex is overated you guys are oblivious. He would have made little if
any difference. Get another quality starter
Money wasn't the final straw for Mark Teixeira. He and his family were averse to Boston from the start. Pounding the sand and tilting at windmills can't change that fact. He wanted to go to NY. Good luck and godspeed, no? I like the team the way it stands now. I think they can win even without landing Teixeira.
have you seen my baseball?
It would be sooooo cool to have hanley ramirez back. Id give them a bucholtz and lowrie for him. It's worth it.
If they are going to rely on the pitching and defense they have right now, they are done. Both the Yanks and Rays have better defense and pitching than the Sox.
I hope they trade for Hanley (Buchholz, Ellsbury and another prospect, just not Lars Anderson). They can afford to trade clay, they have enough pitching with Penny and they have Bowden, Tazawa, Hagadone, etc. in the minors (and Masterson and Daniel Bard). Put Hanley in center, he stinks defensively at shortstop. Lowrie will be fine.
Lineup: Hanley, Pedroia (or switch them) Ortiz, Youk, Drew, Lowell, Bay, Lowrie, (catcher). Pretty good already.
BUT: Does anyone actually think the Marlins will trade a 25 yr. old superstar with 6 years left on his contract? I didn't think so..... Hiwever, DO IT, THEO!
Mazz, you are fast approaching becoming every bit the Tool that CHB is. That is pretty poor! How far up your butt is your head, anyway? Is there anything that you can write about that is not filled with second guessing and warped invective? I guess the Herald was staffed with more losers than I thought!
DONT TRADE ELLSBURY
the sox could have signed tex when they went out for that meeting they were told the number of what it would have taken to sign him on the spot and henry stormed off like a senior with his coupons trying to get a bargain...and wrote an angry email!! GREAT tactic genius... cheapskate henry tried a bargaining ploy that blew up in his face just like when he tried to get arod! So for 1 million a year or so we lost tex to the damn Yankees just like how they got arod... Henry needs to stay away from the damn negotiating table and let theo do his job! He keeps trying to knock down the price of the most coveted players in the league and then loses them to a higher bidder. It was best said in a recent article that with tex we would have had a very balanced lineup and without him we have a bunch of no. 5 hitters! We need another proven bat I'd have loved hanley but you could have got tex for just money no prospects! Should have made it happen with tex and traded for peavey! And ive been saying for years that wake is the perfect reliever! Becket mid 90's to wakes knuckle back to paps mid 90's in theory batters would have NO timing! Why? Is sheets still available? Isn't he a better risk than penny? I wish I could run the damn team for one year! LOL dont even have to pay me! =)
getting varitek back would be a massive mistake unless it was MAYBE a 1 year 4 million dollar deal. he is old and terrible now, you people need to be less nostalgic for JASON "MR.220" VARITEK! yeah he did alot for our team but that doesnt mean we should put up with his PATHETIC offense. blah blah he has a good eye for the ball, shut up. just shut up.
trade clay suckholtz (this season was just as much an abomination for him as it was for mr.220) for saltamancia ASAP.
Blind followers of the church of Theo, Listen UP. This team is going to lose a LOT this year, that is the new philosophy, to become Twins east. Sucker your loyal fans until they revolt then make an attempt to win after making billions for Henry co.
Wise up, this team is designed to lose this year and for the next couple to maximize profits. Sounds like Jeremy Jacobs is a silent partner with the Dead Sox.
Ya Mazz is over the top. Its easy to get caught up in trying to match step with the Yankees. If the injured are OK (Lowell and Papi) the team is at least better than the rest of the AL, the Yankees excepted. On paper, the Yankees may be the team to beat in the AL, so what else is new. If necessary, the Sox are one big bat/trade away from having the best roster in the game.... what's wrong with that?